Pull out your stylin’ 50’s threads and cruise over to Key West Art & Historical Society’s second annual “Back in Time” fundraising party, Wednesday, November 29 from 5pm – 10pm at the Custom House Museum and Margaritaville Resort. This year’s gala celebrates the Custom House’s 126th anniversary in fabulous 50’s style with event proceeds to support the ongoing preservation needs of Key West’s architectural crown jewel, while also raising funds to support Habitat for Humanity’s hurricane recovery efforts.

The bash warms up from 5pm-6:30 pm on the veranda of the Custom House, 281 Front Street, with cocktails and crooned tunes by the “Diva’s of Doo-wop,” the Fabulous Spectrelles. Next stop is Margaritaville Resort’s Grand Ballroom, which will be transformed into a 1950’s gymnasium dance scene. The evening will feature live tunes by Patrick & the Swayzees, fabulous 50’s dining – complete with soda fountain, exciting costume and dance contests, a silent auction to benefit Habit for Humanity and presentation of this year’s Scotti Merrill Preservation Award to Florida Keys historian Tom Hambright.

Partygoers are encouraged to break out their timely fashions. What to wear, you ask? For the guys: duck-tailed hair, rolled up jeans, and a classic T-shirt a la James Dean; letter, leather, or dinner jackets, or full-out 1950’s Elvis, swivel hips included. Dolls have lots of ops to dress to kill in poodle skirts and petticoats, pencil skirts and sweater sets, pedal pushers and ponytails, or glitzy 50’s prom-glam. And let’s not forget long gloves and bullet bras!

“We are honored to award Tom Hambright the 2017 Scotti Merrill Preservation Award,” says Society Executive Director Michael Gieda. “This year’s event will be one to remember and we are pleased to include Habitat for Humanity as part of the festivities. Don’t forget, “It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s what you do with your dancin’ shoes.””

Join the Party. Step “Back in Time” to invest in the future; purchase a single ticket for $125 or sponsor a table for $1,250, $2,500, $5,000, $10,000 or more—proceeds will be contributed to the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys’ Custom House Preservation Fund. For more information, visit KWAHS.ORG or contact Danielle Holliday at 305.295.6616 x 111. –Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island.

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Maurizio Nardi and Natalia Duke practice their Fabulous 50s dance moves on the veranda of the iconic Custom House Museum in anticipation of this year’s Key West Art & Historical Society “Back in Time” fundraising bash, Wednesday, November 29 from 5pm – 10pm at the Custom House Museum and Margaritaville Resort.

About Us

The mission of The Key West Art & Historical Society is to preserve the culture of the Florida Keys through exhibiting and displaying regional art, architecture and history for the purpose of educating the community and visiting public.